Machine for cleaning fringes on domestic carpets and oriental rugs



June 23,

H. LUCASSIAN 2,287,439

MACHINE FOR CLEANING FRINGE ON DOMEST IG CARPETS. AND ORIENTAL RUGS Filed Oct. 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hrach Lucassian June 23, 1942.

H. LUCASSIAN MACHINE FOR CLEANII IG FRINGES ON DOMESTIC CARPETS AND ORIENTAL RUGS Filed Oct. 17, 1940 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 k/rach .ZIucassi'an Patented June 23, 1942 UNITEDNSTATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR CLEANING FRINGES ON DO- MESTIC CARPETS AND ORIENTAL RUGS Hrach Lucassian, Chicago, Ill. Application October 17, 1940. Serial No. 361,632 9 Claims. (01. 15-40) This invention relates to brushing and scrubbing machines and more particularly carpet cleaning machines.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a machine adapted to clean both sides of the fringes'on domestic and oriental rugs in one operation without the operator having to kneel or bend over the work.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a machine for cleaning fringes on rugs adapted to be pushed along the fringed edges of the rug so as to elevate the fringes into contact with the cleaning elements thereof.

A further object of this invention resides in the particular means for elevating the fringed edges of the rugs into the cleaning solution.

A still further object of this invention resides in the particular means for guiding the rugs onto the elevating platform.

Aside from the aforesaid objects this invention resides in the particular means for supporting the cleaning solution, reservoirs.

Among the many objects of this invention is the means adapted to wipe the cleaning solution from the fringes as they leave the solution basin.

One of the salient features of this invention is the particular means for driving the cleaning brush.

In the accompanying. drawings forming a part of this application;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional viewthereof approximately on line 33 of Fig.1".

Fig. 4 is a similar view approximately on line fi4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of the rear portion of the chassis of the machine showing the adjustable guide supporting plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the wiper for removing excess solution from the fringe.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the chassis of the machine.

In the present illustration of this invention the numeral 5 designates, in general, a machine adapted to clean fringes on domestic and oriental rugs and consists of a chassis 6 supporting a rug elevating platform I, a solution basin or tank 8 disposed beneath water and soap reservoirs 9 and I0 resting on brackets II in front of-which is an adjustable plate I2 carrying star-wheels l3 adjacent similar star-wheels l4 carried by the elevating platform to engage a rug indicated in Fig. 3 by the letter R and guide the fringe.

thereof indicated by the letter F into engagement with a rotating brush l5 operable in the basin 8, said brush is driven by an electric motor l6 through the instrumentality of suitable gears I1 housed within a gear casing l8, said gears being herein shown as of the worm type.

Secured to the chassis of the machine preferably from the rear side thereof is-a suitable handle [9 on which'is disposed a flexible or other suitable type lever20 extending to valves II on thewater and soap reservoirs 'to replenish the supply of solution inthe basin as it is used. Also associated withthe handlei's an electric conduit 22 connected to the motor an d'hav ing switches 23 connected thereto so as to start andstop the motor.

'Theside Wall of the basinherein designated by the letter A is provided with a slot 24 through which the shaft of the brush indicated by'the numeral?!) extends said shaft being'journa-lled in a bearing 26 secured to the rear'wall of the basin and the aforesaid gear casing. The aforesaid mentioned brackets ll are-secured to the sidewall ofthe basin and extend laterally over the solution basinto support the soap and water reservoirs andare'provided at their free ends with spaced lugs 21' through which the adjustable plate I2 slides, said plate being held in adjusted position by suitable thumbscrews 28 or the like threadedly disposed in the outermost lugs 21. 7

The rug elevating platform I is constructed of a plurality of arcuate slats 29 mounted at their medial portions on the chassis B with their free ends connected together by laterally extending ,slats 3i] disposed in close proximity to the floor to readily permit the sain e to be pushed beneath a rug and elevate the fringed end thereof into engagement with the rotating brush.

In order to permitthe leading edge of ,theplatform, indicated ,by the letter B; to readily enter beneath rugs on the floor and gradually deposit them thereon subsequent to cleaningthe same, the forward and rear edgesof the platform converge from the basin. p

Mounted on the platform 1 to overlie the solution tank 8 at the end last traversed by the fringe is an upstanding rib 3| forming a wiper which engages the fringe as it passes from above the tank 8. This wiper is engaged by the fringe which, at the point of engagement, is dripping wet and, as the fringe rubs against the front edge of the wiper much of the entrained solution will be wiped off, the action, being similarto that which takes place when a wet mop is drawn over the edge of a bucket.

It will be noted that the brush IS in Fig. 3 revolves in clockwise direction. By reason of this as the brush moving from right to left in Fig. 3 passes along the edge of the rug, the fringe is first engaged by the front face of the ascending sector of the brush which lifts the fringe and brushes it upward so that the lower sides of the fringe strands are cleaned. Then further lateral movement of the brush brings the fringe into contact with the descending sector which deflects the fringe downwardly so that the upper sides of the fringe strands are cleaned.

The soap and water reservoirs are separated as at 34 and provided with suitable covers 35.

With this invention fully set forth it is manifest that a machine is provided whereby the fringes on rugs can be readily cleaned in the minimum period of time without the operator bending or kneeling and, through the simplicity of the elements set forth, the same can be cheaply manufactured and sold at reasonable cost.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A floor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets the combination of, a wheeled chassis, a cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis, means carried by the chassis for raising and directing the fringed edge of a rug over the solution tank, means operable in the tank for successively scrubbing the bottom and top of the fringe and means disposed over the tank for wiping the solution off the fringe prior to delivery back on the floor.

2. In a floor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets the combination of, a chassis, a cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis, a rotatable brush in the tank and adapted to have its lower portion dip into a cleaning solution held in the tank, a rug raising platform mounted on the chassis with its inner portion extending from the front and rear sides of the tank close to the fioor, rug guiding means carried by the chassis and rug raising platform, said platform and guiding means being arranged to cause the rug fringe to be engaged and traversed by the brush, a fringe wiper carried by the rug raising'platform adjacent its delivery endand over the tank and an electric motor carried by the chassis and connected to the brush.

3. In a floor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets the combination of, a chassis, a cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis, a rotatable brush mounted on a horizontal shaft' and disposed in the tank with its lower portion extending sufficiently into the tank to dip into cleaning solution held in the tank, a rug raising platform mounted on the chassis and extendingfrom. the side of the tank with its inner end projecting downwardly from the front and rear, ends, of the. tank, said platform decreasing in width and height, from a point adjacent the chassis to its outer end, an adjustable plate disposed over the rug raising platform in--c1ose proximity to the side wall of the tank, rug guiding means carried by the rug raising platform adjacent the first mentioned guide means, a fringe wiper on the rug raising platform disposed over the tank, and power transmitting means carried by the chassis. and connected to, the shaft, said platform having its leading and trailing edges positioned adjacent the surface whereon the chassis rests.

4. In a floor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets the combination of, a chassis, a cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis and having front and rear walls, a brush mounted on a horizontal shaft and rotatable in the solution tank with its lower portion extending sufficiently into the tank to dip into cleaning solution held in the tank, an arcuate rug raising platform mounted on the chassis with its inner ortion straddling the solution tank at its upper portions and having its leading and trailing edges adjacent the surface on which the chassis rests, rug guiding means carried by the rug raising platform, adjustable rug guiding means carried by the chassis adjacent the first mentioned rug guiding means, a fringe wiper carried by the rug raising platform adjacent its delivery end and over the solution tank, solution reservoirs carried by the chassis over the tank, and brush and power transmitting means carried by the chassis and connected to the brush.

5. In a floor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only of rugs and carpets the combination of, a chassis, a cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis and having front and rear walls, a brush secured on one end of a horizontal shaft and rotatably disposed in the tank and having its lower portion adapted to dip into cleaning solution in the tank, an arcuate rug raising platform mounted on the chassis with its inner portion straddling the front and rear ends of the tank and its leading and trailing edges disposed close to the floor, rug guiding means carried by the chassis and rug raising platform, brackets carried by the chassis and extending over the tank, solution reservoirs supported by the bracket over the tank and brush, an adjustable plate mounted in the ends of the brackets, means securing the adjustable plate to the brackets, star guide wheels carried by the plate at its lower edge, star guide wheels carried by the rug raising platform in close proximity to the first mentioned star guide wheels, a fringe wiper carried by the rug raising platform over the tank, and power transmitting means carried by the chassis and connected to the shaft of the brush.

6. In a fioor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets the combination of, a wheeled chassis, an elongated cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis, a horizontally extending shaft carried by the chassis with its outer end disposed approximately midway over the tank, a rotatable brush secured to the free end of the shaft and extending into the tank sufficiently to cause its lower portion to dip into cleaning solution held in the tank, an arched rug raising platform carried by the chassis with its inner end straddling the tank at its upper edges and its leading and trailing edges lying in close proximity to the floor, power transmitting means connected to the shaft, rug guiding means carried by the chassis and rug raising platform in close proximity to the tank, a wiper carried by the rug raising latform adjacent its rear end and over the tank, and a handle secured to the chassis.

'7. In a fioor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets comprising, a wheeled chassis, an elongated cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis with its ends disposed at thefront and rear of the machine, a rotatable shaftcarriedby the chassis and extending horizontally over a portion of the tank, a

brush secured to that end of the shaft over the tank with a portion thereof operable through the solution in the tank, means on the chassis directing the fringe of a rug from the floor over the tank in contact with and passing the front face of the brush and back onto the floor, and means positioned on the rug directing means over the tank for removing solution from the wet fringe, and power transmitting means connected to the shaft.

8. In a floor traversing machine for cleaning the fringe only on rugs and carpets comprising, a wheeled chassis, an elongated cleaning solution tank mounted on the chassis with its ends disposed at the front and rear sides of the machine, a rotatable shaft carried by the chassis horizontally across a portion of the tank approximately medially of its ends, a brush secured to that end of the shaft terminating over the tank with a portion thereof operable through solution in the tank, a slat like rug raising platform carried by the chassis and gradually inclined upwardly from its leading and trailing edges to the top edge of the tank and having its inner end straddling the tank. brackets carried by the chassis and extending over the tank, guide lugs on the free ends of the brackets,

solution reservoirs having a portion of their hottoms arched over the brush supported on the brackets, an adjustable plate secured in the guide lugs of the brackets, star guide wheels journalled on the adjustable plate and rug raising platform in close proximity to the side of the tank, outlet valves in the bottoms of the solution reservoirs and disposed over the tank, a fringe wiper on the rug raising platform adjacent its rear edge and over the tank, power transmitting means connected to the brush shaft, a handle secured to and extending from the rear end of the chassis, and means connected to the valves of said solution reservoirs for simultaneously opening and closing the same from the handle.

9. That method of cleaning the fringe on rugs and carpets having fringed edges while disposed on floors which consist in raising successive linear portions of a fringed edge, brushing the fringe of each raised portion with a cleaning solution first upwardly to cleanse the lower sides of the fringe strands and then downwardly to cleanse the upper sides of the fringe strands, wiping off excess solution to partially dry the fringe and depositing the wiped portion on the floor.

HRACH LUCASSIAN. 

